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Best Small body???

mjs47

By mjs47
in Gibson Acoustic

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mjs47

mjs47

Posted
Posted

Hi

 

I’m looking for a small bodied Gibson for fingerstyle blues and trying to choose between an L1 Robert Johnson (despite the signature!) and a Bluesmaster - also possibly a Keb’ Mo, if I can find one. I am a big fan of 12 fret necks so maybe leanign that way but it's not essential.

 

Any views/ reviews from those with experience, or other suggestions gratefully received.

 

Cheers in advance!

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mr newhaven

mr newhaven

Posted
Posted

agree on the L-00...

 

in my opinion the Keb Mo and the bluesmaster...etc...the johnson...these are more marketing than anything else...check these out...

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-l-00-1931

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-l-37-1939

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-kalamazoo-l-00-kg-14-11-1931-natural

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-lg-1-1958-cherry-sunburst

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-lg-1-gia0368-1952-tobacco-sunburst

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-lg-1-sunburst-gia0354-1957-sunburst

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-lg-1-1964-sunburst

 

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-lg-0-1959-mahogany-1

 

 

dont get too much gas!

i love small bodies...and gibsons especially!

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zombywoof

zombywoof

Posted
Posted

"Best" - after 50 years I still don't have a flippin' clue. The small body Gibsons, especially the L-00, are nice guitars and you can surely pick some blues on them but then again, you can play the blues on just about anything (OK - Tayors may be stretching it). It all comes down to sound and playability and that is going to be very subjective.

 

I started off with a 1930s Gibson L-00. That one though ended up spending more time in its case (although I am presently hoping to get it back) when I ran across a 1930 Oscar Schmidt Stella concert. Yummy. But that one eventually met its match (in part do to some nasty condition issues that had arisen over the years) when I happened across a mid-1930s Kay Kraft. There were also a Gibson LG-1 and LG-2 in there somewhere but they were unable to capture the #1 slot. Point is I played da' blues on them all but each one had something unique about it that really appealed to me at the time. What that was - its kinda like Judge Reinhold trying to describe porn in some movie - I can't decribe it but I know it when I see (hear) it.

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Rambler

Rambler

Posted
Posted

Tasteful, Wiley. No, I agree EuroAussie that "withIn this size .. probably a Martin". For around $1500 you cant get a lovely 0018v. In the 2.5k range, you can get a 12-fret 00. Bozeman has yet to come up with a consistent production model is this range. The L00s (blues kings): long scale through 06; ditto the RJ L-1, so both are tighter and brighter than the originals. The RJs of course have the silly signature (Im sure he approved and the family is getting royalties). Still vexed that Gibson hasnt done a straight [ie standard] reissue of the L00, instead of the upscaled Keb/Legend versions. As Suburude points out Greven makes a nice L00 copy, if you can affored it; for that kind of money you can get a 30s model. LGs are custom runs. Want an old one? the X-braced Lg2 and ladder braced LG1 are 2 different critters--either way beware of repair issues. The L20 Wiley Fool mentions is not in production.

 

ps the Arlo LG2 is an interesting option. Nicely made by all accounts, but you have to deal with a very tight scale length. One of our members is selling (sold?) one over that.

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